High above the shores of Lake Geneva, Hôtel Royal and Hôtel Ermitage at France’s iconic Evian Resort are showing what the future of sustainable luxury might look like. The two historic hotels have just been awarded the prestigious Clé Verte (Green Key) eco-label, the world’s leading international certification for sustainable tourism in lodging and restaurants.
It’s a milestone that recognises the depth of their environmental and social commitments and offers a blueprint for how grand, storied properties can evolve responsibly without sacrificing charm or indulgence.
Biodiversity in the heart of Evian
The 47-acre grounds surrounding the hotels are already a haven for biodiversity. An official sanctuary under France’s League for the Protection of Birds (LPO) since 2011, the park teems with life thanks to nesting boxes, insect hotels, and wide swathes of flowering meadows left wild to support pollinators. Pesticides are banned outright, hunting is prohibited, and regular inventories ensure that this corner of Haute-Savoie continues to flourish in harmony with local species.
Behind the scenes, water and waste management have been overhauled. Rainwater is collected and fed into weather-responsive irrigation systems, guest rooms are equipped with water-saving fixtures, and food waste is either composted or collected by local charities. Even leftover soaps don’t go to waste: through a partnership with UNISOAP, they’re recycled into fresh bars for communities in need.
Energy is another major focus. Much of the Evian Resort’s heating now comes from a wood-fired district system, drawing on local renewable resources. Combined with extensive insulation upgrades, LED lighting, motion sensors and climate control systems, the improvements dramatically cut emissions. Guests looking to explore the surrounding mountains can do so with a lighter footprint too, thanks to electric bikes, cars, and dedicated charging stations.
Food at Evian Resort is another story of local, low-impact luxury. Under the direction of Chef Patrice Vander, Hôtel Royal’s kitchens draw from a vast 3,000-square-metre vegetable garden and produce organic honey on site. At the fine dining restaurant Les Fresques, recently awarded Ecotable certification, menus lean heavily on regional ingredients and sustainable suppliers, celebrating the best of Haute-Savoie with minimal environmental cost.
Evian Resort’s commitment to people is just as robust. Employees benefit from dedicated training, wellness initiatives, and a strong inclusivity policy, while the hotels’ reliance on short supply chains and local partnerships helps strengthen the broader social and economic fabric of the region.
For Hôtel Royal and Hôtel Ermitage, achieving Clé Verte certification is more than a badge. It’s the culmination of years of investment and a firm statement that luxury and environmental responsibility don’t just coexist, they can thrive together. In an era where travellers are increasingly searching for both exceptional hospitality and genuine sustainability, Evian Resort stands out as a model for how the industry can move forward, elegantly and consciously.
